Sunday Times 2
Facets 2014: Providing a gem of an opportunity
Pointing at what he claims to be the world’s biggest Cobalt Spinel, a rare stone found in Ratnapura that has an exotic spectrum of coral blue, Sharik Sailani of Ruwanpura Gems said it could fetch US$ 200,000. Like this gem merchant from Ratnapura, there were many other dealers in gems and jewellery at” Facets 2014′ the annual gem and jewellery exhibition being held today at the BMICH. The event brings together potential gem buyers and sellers, both local and international.
Pic by Athula Devapriya
This is the 24th edition of FACETS Sri Lanka International Gem and Jewellery Exhibition currently being held at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike wing of the BMICH. Over 150 stalls showcase an exotic range of precious and semi precious gems such as garnets, sapphires, zircons, rubies, apatite, spinel, etc and jewellery made of these.
Organised by the Sri Lanka Gem and Jewellery Association (SLGJA), the exhibition, in addition to individual stalls, also features pavilions by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and Sri Lanka Export Development Board. International buyers were present in their numbers representing countries like China, India, Thailand, Hong Kong, USA, Germany, Russia, Dubai and Singapore.
Speaking to the Sunday Times some of the gem and jewellery merchants said an exhibition of this nature gives them the rare opportunity of tapping the international market by building up new contacts and venturing into partnerships with the foreign buyers and dealers.
Christie Sudath, Chairman of the Gorakadeniya Jewellery Makers Association, an organisation made up of traditional jewellery makers in Gorakadeniya, sees FACETS exhibition as an event that gives traditional jewellery-makers like them, who were hitherto only engaging in business at the village level, a chance to start trading with the international market. “There are instances where our members have been invited by buyers from China, Singapore and India to take part in their exhibitions and this gives us good exposure,” he said.
FACETS 2014 was opened on September 4, by Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie and Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy Susil Premajayantha while the Managing Director German Foundation for Gemstone Research / German Gem Lab Dr. Claudio C Milisenda and the Managing Director GIA South East Asia and Director GIA Laboratory Bangkok, Kenneth Scaratt were the Guests of Honour.
Addressing guests at the opening, Dr. Claudio C. Milisenda said, “Sri Lanka is a unique supplier of international gems, especially Sapphires and Rubies. I found it significant that the NGJA has laid out a framework for the country and FACETS Sri Lanka will further enhance this vision.”
Kenneth Scarratt addressing the gathering extended GIA’s assistance for the gem industry in Sri Lanka.
The event also saw the awarding of trophies and cash prizes to the winners and runners- up of the Best Gem Cutter Competition held under Regular Cutter and Creative Cutter categories.
The FACETS Gem and Jewellery Exhibition is open today until 6 p.m